Three-Flavor Soy(a) Nuggets

I was inspired by the three-flavor wheat gluten appetizer found in Buddhist restaurants. The wheat gluten is separately sauced with (vegan) oyster sauce, curry sauce, and sweet and sour sauce.

I didn’t feel like making wheat gluten (seitan), but I had soy(a) nuggets. I especially like the one with sweet chili sauce.

• 1 cup soy(a) nuggets
• 6 tblsp boiling water
• 1 tblsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp curry powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 2 tblsp sweet chili sauce

1. Boil the soy(a) nuggets for 15 minutes. 
2. Pour 2 tblsp boiling water each into 3 small bowls.
3. In one bowl, dissolve sugar and 1/4 tsp salt. Mix in soy sauce.
4. In the second bowl, mix curry powder, turmeric, and 1/4 tsp salt.
5. In the third bowl, mix in sweet chili sauce.
6. Remove the soy(a) nuggets from the boiling liquid and plunge them in cold water to cool down. Drain and squeeze as much water from the cooked soy(a) nuggets as possible.
7. Divide the cooked soy nuggets into three portions and add each portion to a bowl. Mix well.
8. Serve at room temperature.

Andouille and Macaroni

Andouille and Rice is an excellent dish, but I had no rice, so I decided to adapt with elbow macaroni instead.

• 2 tblsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 tblsp Cajun seasoning
• 1/3 cup elbow macaroni, cooked according to instructions and drained
• 1 andouille sausage
• water
• dash of liquid smoke

1. In a mixing bowl, mix 1 tblsp vegetable oil and Cajun seasoning. Toss the cooked and drained elbow macaroni in the seasoned oil and set aside.
2. Fill a small skillet with 1/4” water and add a dash of liquid smoke. Put in the andouille and turn the heat to medium low. Cook the sausage until the liquid has evaporated, turning the sausage occasionally.
3. Once the liquid has evaporated, remove the sausage.
4. Add 1 tblsp vegetable oil and heat to medium. Fry the sausage on both sides. Slice and add to the mixing bowl.
5. Toss to coat thoroughly.

Macaroni Soup

This was literally thrown together in 30 minutes using whatever I had in my pantry. 

Pork bone broth powder has no salt and hardly any flavor, but it contains gelatin and collagen, which are supposed to be good for you.

• 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
• 1 tblsp pork bone broth powder
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup elbow macaroni
• 1/4 cup frozen peas and carrots
• splash of vinegar
• 2 eggs
• salt and black pepper to taste

1. Mix chicken bouillon powder, pork bone broth powder, and boiling water in a serving bowl.
2. Cook elbow macaroni according to instructions. Add frozen peas and carrots. Bring back to a boil and cook for another minute. Drain and add to the serving bowl.
3. Bring water and vinegar to a gentle simmer in a saucepan.
4. Carefully slide a cracked egg into the water. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon into the serving bowl. Repeat with the second egg.
5. Season the eggs with salt and black pepper to taste.

Creamy Scrambled Eggs with Curried Peas and Carrots

 

I was trying to come up with a way to use my eggs. I really don’t eat eggs very much, but I do like scrambled eggs, and I like curry. This was a good brunch dish.

• 1 1/2 tblsp ghee
• 1/4 cup frozen peas and carrots, defrosted
• 1/4 tsp curry powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tblsp water
• 2 eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt and black pepper and 1 tblsp half and half
• hot sauce to taste (I used ghost pepper hot sauce)

1. In a small skillet or saucepan, heat 1/2 tblsp ghee, peas and carrots, curry powder, salt and pepper, and water over low heat to heat through. Strain and set aside.
2. Heat 1 tblsp ghee a large skillet over medium low heat and gently stir in the beaten egg. Keep stirring until the egg is velvety. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Serve immediately with the curried peas and carrots and hot sauce.

Chicken Fried Rice

I love fried rice. I didn’t really eat much fried rice growing up, because my mother thought that meant she didn’t plan her meals properly, so I only ate fried rice in restaurants. Fried rice requires, rightly so, leftovers. 

This can be thrown together in practically no time once all the ingredients have been gathered. I prefer using a wok instead of a skillet; woks are meant for stir frying! 

I don’t like soy sauce in my fried rice, so I didn’t use any.

• 2 tblsp vegetable oil
• 2 eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup cold cooked rice
• 1/4 frozen peas and carrots, defrosted
• 1/4 cooked chicken breast, cut into small pieces (size of peas/carrots)
• salt to taste

1. Heat 1 tblsp of vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Pour in the beaten egg and stir fry quickly until set and in small pieces. Remove and set aside.
2. Add the remaining vegetable oil to the wok. Once it is hot, quickly stir fry the rice.
3. Add the peas and carrots and chicken and stir fry until heated through. Season with salt to taste.

Scallop Congee with Chicken, Shiitake Mushroom, and Soft-Boiled Egg

This was a fairly simple breakfast/lunch/late night snack. The dried scallops and mushrooms give this simple gruel a huge umami flavor.

• 1 tblsp small dried scallops
• 1 dried shiitake mushroom
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup cooked rice
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp chicken bouillon powder
• 1/4 cooked chicken breast, shredded
• pinch of white pepper

1. Soak scallops and mushroom in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain and thinly slice the mushroom.
2. Boil water in a saucepan with enough water to cover the egg. Bring to a boil, gently put the egg in, then turn the heat to low. Simmer for 6 minutes. Put the egg in an ice bath to cool. Peel and cut in half.
3. Add rice, water, scallops, mushrooms, and chicken bouillon powder to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 30 minutes. Stir in shredded chicken to heat through.
4. Spoon the congee into a serving bowl and season with white pepper. Garnish with the egg halves.

Scotch & Wine Cocktail

I was just messing around trying to see if a cocktail with Scotch and white wine would work (I’m more a red wine person, especially Malbec). I used Pino Grigio for this.

• 1 tblsp sugar
• 1 tblsp hot water 
• ice
• 2 oz Scotch 
• 1 packet True Lime
• 1 oz dry white wine

1. Dissolve sugar in water and let cool.
2. Fill a shaker with ice and add Scotch and True Lime. Shake well to chill the mixture. 
3. Strain into a chilled glass filled with fresh ice. 
4. Top with dry white wine.

Steak and Eggs

I’m not much of a breakfast person, but I felt like steak and eggs. I like using ghee instead butter; ghee has a much higher smoke point, and it has a nutty flavor.

• 1 Angus strip steak, about 3/4-lb weight and 1/2” thick
• 2 tblsp Himalayan salt
• 2 tblsp ghee
• 2 eggs
• salt and pepper to taste
• HP sauce to taste

1. Pat the steak dry with paper towels. Rub Himalayan salt all over the steak. Wrap in paper towel, then put in a zip top bag. Let sit in the fridge overnight.
2. Remove steak from the zip top bag and rinse off excess salt. Pat dry and let it come to room temperature.
3. Heat ghee in a heavy skillet over high heat. Sear the steak on both sides, then turn the heat to medium and fry for 2 minutes on each side, basting constantly. Remove and let rest for 10 minutes.
4. Turn the heat up to high and break the eggs into the grease. Fry until desired doneness, basting constantly. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Plate the steak and eggs. Serve the steak with HP sauce.